Fremont County Heritage Commission Member Mike Madone bears a strikingly similar appearance to John C. Fremont when he portrayed Fremont as part of the 200th birthday celebration of Fremont on January 21st.
The Fremont County Heritage Commission and the Board of Commissioners hosted a gathering in the Administration Building atrium Monday morning to celebrate the 200th birthday of the county’s namesake, John C. Fremont. Heritage Commission member Mike Madone made an appearance as John C. Fremont and read a poem he had written noting Fremont’s accomplishments and challenges as well as his travels through southern Colorado while surveying the American West.
County Commission Chair Debbie Bell read a resolution the Board of Commissioners adopted this week noting Fremont’s accomplishments and asked all citizens to join in celebrating Fremont’s 200th birthday. Commissioners Ed Norden and Tim Payne helped unveil a pair of prints of John C. Fremont portraiture's that will hang in the Commissioners’ lower level meeting room. Norden said that for more than 30 years he wondered why the Commissioners’ meeting room never displayed a picture of Fremont. Norden said the with aid of the Fremont County G.I.S. Office the Commissioners selected a pair of digital photos and had them reproduced in print on the G.I.S. map printer.
Heritage Commission Chairwoman Carol McNew was master of ceremonies and took the opportunity to present a plaque to Margaret Storm for her contributions to the Commission. Storm recently resigned from the Heritage Commission to spend time on other interests. McNew and Mary Chamberlain said Storm was responsible for organizing “Spirits of the Past” in which local citizens dressed in period costume during Fremont County’s 150th Anniversary in 2011 and portrayed civic leaders from Fremont County’s past.
Fremont’s 200th birthday party concluded with the crowd of some 50 people enjoying birthday cake.
These framed prints of John C. Fremont will adorn the walls of the Board of Commissioners' meeting room in the County Administration Building